This out of Dallas: CBSSports.com is reporting that The Covenant School, a private Christian school in the city is embarrassed by its recent 100-0 win over Dallas Academy and wants to make things right.

A statement on the school's Web site said the head of school has made "a formal request to forfeit the game recognizing that a victory without honor is a great loss."

According to the CBS Web site, Dallas Academy coach Jeremy Civello told The Dallas Morning News that the game turned into a "layup drill," with the opposing team's guards waiting to steal the ball and drive to the basket. Covenant scored 12 points in the fourth quarter and "finally eased up when they got to 100 with about four minutes left," he said.

Dallas Academy has eight girls on its varsity team and about 20 girls in its high school. It is winless during the past four seasons. The academy boasts of its small class sizes and specializes in teaching students struggling with "learning differences," such as short attention spans or dyslexia.

When asked about the loss, Dallas Academy players said the loss frustrated them, but was an opportunity to learn. And the players were praised by coaches and parents for never giving up; allowing just 12 points in the fourth quarter.

This game could have been played anywhere in this country. Blowouts in girls' basketball are nothing new, even in central Pennsylvania. Can't say 100-0 is common, but 50-point wins are not out of the ordinary.

But seeking a forfeit after the game, and a week of publicity, just to teach a lesson is a little like closing the barn door after the horses have escaped.

Why was this game allowed to escalate? Every season this question comes up. At what point does a coach call off the dogs and just play out the clock? Some on one side of the fence believe it is up to the other team to improve. Others believe it isn't right to rub it in the other team's face.

Both sides are right.

But if one team hasn't won a game in four years, the likelihood it is going to discover a game during a blowout isn't realistic. The Covenant coach knew his team wasn't going to be challenged.

Start the second string. Play a zone. Don't start the press. And if your team is leading by 59 at the break, don't shoot in the second half.

Coaches are given the job for a reason. They are supposed to be the adults. In this game, it doesn't sound as if the adults were thinking clearly.

Perhaps the price should be a forfeit. And an invitation to the Academy players from Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban to join him in his suite for an NBA game.

No such invitation was extended to the Covenant girls. Nor does it sound as if it should have been.

Related Stories

Featured Story

Get 'Today's Front Page' in your inbox

This newsletter is sent every morning at 6 a.m. and includes the morning's top stories, a full list of obituaries, links to comics and puzzles and the most recent news, sports and entertainment headlines.

optionalCheck here if you do not want to receive additional email offers and information.See our privacy policy

Thank you for signing up for 'Today's Front Page'

To view and subscribe to any of our other newsletters, please click here.